Swampcott's American flag stolen on 4th of July

SWAMPSCOTT, Mass. (WHDH) -- Swampscott’s American flag, which was donated by a family who lost their son in the Iraq War, was stolen on the Fourth of July, town leaders believe.

Stealing the flag was no easy feat. Whoever stole the massive town flag had to have walked through bushes, climb up on monument to get to a lock box more than 10 feet off the ground, and then get away with a 20 by 30-foot flag weighing 50 pounds.

“There is never a reason, really, to steal a flag obviously, but on a national holiday,” said Tom Younger, town administrator.

People who live in the community say it's insulting.

"Overnight they stole it” That's a little disturbing,” one man said.

"That's too bad. It's a beautiful flag," another man said.

The town's large flag, flown in Monument Square after mid-May until the winter months, is more than a landmark. For Agnes Raymond, the loss of the flag is a reminder of the loss of her grandson, Specialist Jared Raymond who died in Iraq in 2006. He was driving a tank when he hit a roadside bomb.

The $1,000 flag was a gift from his family to the town in Jared Raymond’s honor.

"When I went down today to see that flagpole just empty, it was a very cold, angry feeling. How anybody? Jared lost his life for people like such as the people that stole that flag," Agnes Raymond said.

Town leaders believe it was taken overnight and since the flag is so heavy, it had to be more than a one-person job.

"Hopefully, the authorities find out who did it, and catch them. It's a large flag, it's a big part of the town, love to get it back,” said Peter Bush, a resident.

"I would like to have a few words with them. Just to let them know how hurt I am, how hurt his mother is," Agnes Raymond said.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information regarding the 20 to 30-foot flag is asked to call police.